Floribunda rose plant named &#39;gratgx&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘GRAtgx’ is a new and distinct floribunda type  Rosa  hybrid cultivar which is characterized by the combination of an upright to semi-weeping growth habit, good resistance to  Diplocarpon rosae  and  Podosphaera pannosa , nearly continuous flowering, distinct cerise flowers with yellow stripes and flecks and a cream yellow reverse, a moderate rose fragrance, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation. The new cultivar is generally suited to landscape applications.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/629,845 filed Feb. 13, 2018, which is herein incorporated byreference.

Latin name of genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and speciesof the novel variety disclosed herein is Rosa hybrid.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Rosa hybrid disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘GRAtgx’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘GRAtgx’ is a seedling selection which resulted from thecontrolled cross-pollination of an unnamed Rosa hybrid female breedingline (not patented) and an unnamed Rosa hybrid male breeding line (notpatented). Both parents, developed by the same inventor and nevercommercially released, exhibited traits deemed commercially significantand desirable.

After many years of trialing, the female parent was confirmed to possessa combination of desirable traits such as high resistance to rose blackspot disease, complete resistance to powdery mildew, and cerise pinkflowers with yellow stripes and flecks and a yellow petal reverse, borneon a bushy plant growing to 1.2 m tall and wide. The male parent wasselected for use in breeding after trialing confirmed the presence of amodern flower color. During the spring of 2014, the female parent wasemasculated and was manually pollinated with pollen from the maleparent. In autumn of 2015, seed was collected from hips produced by thefemale parent and a number of seedlings were grown to a mature size,including the claimed plant. These progeny were further evaluated fordesirable traits such as black spot disease resistance and originalflower color, and in January of 2016 the claimed plant was firstobserved. In January of 2017, after further evaluation for desirabletraits, the claimed plant was deemed to be garden-worthy and suited towidespread cultivation. It was given the denomination, ‘GRAtgx’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual propagation of ‘GRAtgx’, by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings, was first performed in May of 2016 at theinventor's nursery in Highfields, Australia. Through more than twelvesubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed andrepresent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Rosa cultivar‘GRAtgx’. These traits, in combination, distinguish ‘GRAtgx’ as a newand distinct cultivar.

1. Rosa ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit; and

2. Rosa ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits high resistance to the plant pathogen,Diplocarpon rosae, commonly referred to as rose black spot disease; and

3. Rosa ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits nearly continuous flowering; and

4. Rosa ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits a double flower type; and

5. Rosa ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits cerise pink flowers with yellow stripes andflecks and a yellow petal reverse; and

6. Rosa ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits flowers with a moderate to strong rosefragrance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figure illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible tomake the same in color photographs of this type, the typical flower of‘GRAtgx’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements, made in February of 2018,describe averages of two own-root specimen's of one year old ‘GRAtgx’plants. The plants were grown outdoors in a garden bed of a redkrasnozem soil in full sunlight, at the inventor's nursery inHighfields, Australia. No shade or supplemental light was provided.Temperatures ranged from approximately 17 to 35 degrees Celsius duringthe day and 7 to 18 degrees Celsius at night. Standard practices forirrigation, fertilizer and pest control were applied at appropriatetimes during the growing season. The plants were pruned three timesduring the growing season using accepted techniques for rose pruning.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘GRAtgx’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2007 Fifth Edition except where commonterms of color are used.

A botanical description of ‘GRAtgx’ and comparisons with the parents andthe most similar commercial cultivar of Rosa hybrid are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-weeping.        -   Growth rate.—Approximately 6 months to reach 60 cm.        -   Dimensions.—60 cm tall and 50 cm wide.        -   Environmental tolerance.—Very good heat tolerance; cold            hardiness is unknown.        -   Disease resistance.—Excellent resistance to powdery mildew            (Sphaerotheca pannosa) and god resistance to blackspot            (Diplocarpon rosae).        -   Propagation.—Technique — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to            initiate roots — About 13 days at approximately 21 degrees            Celsius at root zone and 18 degrees Celsius ambient            temperature. Time to produce a rooted cutting — About 25            days at approximately 21 degrees Celsius at root zone and 18            degrees Celsius ambient temperature.-   Root system: White fibrous roots with many root hairs extending from    lesser roots in a featherlike arrangement.-   Branches:    -   -   Branching habit.—Irregular branching from mature branches,            breaking first from the uppermost buds near the apex of each            shoot.        -   Quantity.—Numerous.        -   General dimensions.—Approximately 35 cm long; 1.5 cm in            diameter near the base and tapering to 1.0 cm.        -   Immature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 0.5 cm. Texture            and pubescence — Smooth with prickles; glabrous. Color —            Near RHS 135D. Prickles — Density — Sparse to moderate.            Color — Near RHS 29C. Shape — Convex. Texture — Smooth.        -   Mature branches.—Diameter — Approximately 1.5 cm, after one            year. Texture and pubescence — Smooth with prickles;            glabrous. Color — Near RHS 145B. Prickles — Density — Sparse            to moderate. Color — Near RHS 164A. Shape — Convex. Texture            — Smooth.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate imparipinnate compound leaves.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 5 per mature branch.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf internode length.—4 cm.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 12 cm long and 10 cm wide.        -   Petiole.—Dimensions — 3.0 cm long and 0.1 to 0.2 cm wide.            Color — Near RHS 145A and margined RHS 143B. Texture and            pubescence — Smooth and glabrous. Prickles — Present.            Stipitate glands — Not present.        -   Stipule.—Dimensions — 2.0 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 150B. Texture and pubescence — Smooth and glabrous.            Margins — Ciliate. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Winged. Prickles            — Not present. Stipitate glands — Not present.        -   Rachis.—Dimensions — 2.3 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 145A. Prickles — Present. Stipitate glands — Not            present.        -   Leaflets.—Quantity — Seven leaflets on axillary leaves.            Dimensions — Average size of the terminal leaflet is 4 cm            long and 5 cm wide. Shape — Ovate. Apex — Acuminate. Base —            Ovate. Margins — Serrated. Texture, pubescence and luster,            adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Texture,            pubescence and luster, abaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous,            and matte. Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface — Near            RHS 136B, with no anthocyanin intonations. Juvenile foliage            color, abaxial surface — Near RHS 138C, with anthocyanin            intonations. Mature foliage color, adaxial surface — Near            RHS 141A. Mature foliage color, abaxial surface — Near RHS            135D. Venation — Pinnate. Venation color, adaxial surface —            Near RHS 141B, with midrib RHS 144B. Venation color, abaxial            surface — Near RHS 145B, with midrib RHS 142B. Petiolule —            Dimensions — 0.4 cm long and 0.1 cm wide. Color — Near RHS            N144 with no anthocyanin intonations present. Prickles — Not            present. Texture — Smooth.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers are clustered.        -   Blooming habit.—Almost continuous from October through June            in the southern hemisphere.        -   Time to flower.—6 to 8 weeks for a new stem to mature and            flowering begins to occur once a stem matures.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — 15 cm long and 0.5 cm in diameter.            Color — Near RHS 145A. Strength — Rigid. Texture and            pubescence — Smooth and glabrous. Prickles — Not present.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Size.—2.0 cm long and 1.5 cm in diameter.        -   Color.—Near RHS 142B.-   Flower:    -   -   Calyx.—General — Comprised of five polysepalous sepals.            Diameter of calyx — 1.0 cm. Sepals — Color, interior surface            — RHS 142D. Color, exterior surface — RHS 144A. Dimensions —            2.5 cm long and 1.0 cm wide. Apex — Apiculate. Base — Flat            at union with receptacle. Quantity — Five. Pubescence —            Densely puberulent. Margins — Entire. Stipitate glands —            None present.        -   Corolla.—General shape of corolla — Cupped and            irregularly-rounded with a tight outer whorl. Rate of            opening — 6 days from bud to anthesis. Dimensions —            Approximately 6 cm in diameter and 5 cm deep. Fragrance —            Moderate rose scent. Lastingness — On the plant for 5 days            after anthesis. Persistence — Self-cleaning. Petals — Petal            count — Exhibits double flowers with approximately 25 petals            under normal conditions. Petal arrangement — Irregularly            rounded whorl at anthesis and aging to a loose whorl.            Dimensions — 4.5 cm long and 5.0 cm wide. Petal shape —            Obovate. Apex — Rounded. Base — Flattened, then obtuse.            Petal reflex — Slightly reflexed at apex. Petal margin —            Entire; slightly undulating. Texture — Soft. Aspect —            Formal. Petal color, upon opening — Upper surface — Near RHS            45A with base near RHS 9A, striped and flecked near RHS 12A.            Lower surface — Near RHS 8C with base near RHS 9A. Petal            color, at anthesis — Upper surface — Near RHS N66A with base            near RHS 9A. Lower surface — Near RHS 8C with margin near            RHS 9A. Fading — Near RHS 54C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Anthers — Shape —            Narrow ovate. Length — 1.0 cm. Color — Near RHS 12B. Pollen            — Abundant. Pollen Color — Near RHS 3A. Filaments — Color —            Near RHS 17C. Length — Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Pistils.—Quantity — Approximately 50. Length — Approximately            1.0 cm. Stigma — Shape — Ovate. Color — Near RHS 11B. Style            — Length — Approximately 0.8 cm long. Color — Near RHS 18C.        -   Ovary.—Dimensions — 0.5 cm long and 0.3 cm wide. Color —            Near RHS 3D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape — Pitcher-shaped. Dimensions — 0.5 cm high            and 0.5 cm wide. Color — Near RHS 141D.-   Hip and seed:    -   -   Hip.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm            wide. Texture — Smooth. Color — Near RHS 135D.        -   Seed.—Shape — Rounded. Dimensions — 1.0 cm long and 1.0 cm            wide. Color — Near RHS 144D.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

The new rose plant ‘GRAtgx’ may be distinguished from its seed parent,an unnamed breeding line (not patented), by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

1. ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits cerise flowers with yellow stripes and flecks and acream yellow reverse, whereas the flowers of the seed parent exhibit awhite general coloration.2. ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit, whereasthe seed parent exhibits an upright growth habit.

The new rose plant ‘GRAtgx’ may be distinguished from its pollen parent,an unnamed breeding line (not patented), by the following combination ofcharacteristics:

1. ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits cerise flowers with yellow stripes and flecks and acream yellow reverse, whereas the flowers of the pollen parent exhibit adark red general tonality with coffee stripes.2. ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits an upright to semi-weeping growth habit, whereasthe pollen parent exhibits an upright growth habit.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘GRAtgx’ may be distinguished from thecommercial variety Rosa hybrid ‘WEKplapep’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,126)by the following combination of characteristics:

1. ‘GRAtgx’ exhibits cerise flowers with yellow stripes and flecks and acream yellow reverse, whereas the flowers of ‘WEKplapep’ are red stripedand flecked white.2. Leaves of ‘GRAtgx’ are bullate and glossy mid-green, whereas leavesof ‘WEKplapep’ are glossy dark green.3. ‘GRAtgx’ has flowers with moderate fragrance, whereas ‘WEKplapep’flowers have strong fragrance with damask notes.

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Rosa hybridplant named ‘GRAtgx’ as described and illustrated herein.